Method for the condensation of hydrocarbon vapors and apparatus therefor



June 24, 1930. LQQMIS 1,767,299

METHOD FOR THE CONDENSATION OF HYDRO'CARBON VAPORS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed July 12. 1927 CONDENSER Q 2 1 Q 5 (J E E\. 1 \4 O 91 g o a; b b (q R 3% 5 s so a Q v; u

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mam" M w? M Patented June 24, 1930- UNITED STATES 'PATENTj OFFICE NATHANIEL E. LOOIIS, OE WESTIIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD FOR THE CONDENSATION 0E HYDROGARBON VAPORS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Application filed July 12, 1927. Serial No. 205,095. g

This invention relates to the art of distilling petroleum oils and more specifically to an improved method and apparatusfor the condensation of the hydrocarbon vapors evolved on distillation of petroleum .oils.

' ployed. The condensation of the hydrocarbon vapors takes place simultaneously with the vaporization of the water.or other material which will hereinafter be refered to as the intermediate cooling medium. The vapors thereof are conducted away and passed into indirect heat interchanging relationship with any convenient coohng liquid WhlOh may be available and impure or even salt watermay be employed for this purpose. The condensed intermediate cooling medium is returned to heat interchanging relationship with the h drocarbon vapors and continuous circulatlon established.

The condensed oil is preferably cooled by passing the same into indirect heat interchanging relationship with any convement cooling medium preferably the cooh liquid passing to the apparatus in whic the vapors of the intermediate cooling liquid are condensed.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the vaporization and condensation of the intermediate cooling medium is conducted under vacuum, an absolute pressure of 10 inches of mercury or less being maintained in the system.

The distillation of petroleum oil and the condensation of the vapors evolved may also be conducted under vacuum, an absolute pressure of 10 inches .of mercury or less bein preferably maintained therein.

%'he drawing shows a dia rammatic vertical section of a preferre form of apparatus for carrying out my invention. In this apparatus, 1 isa still for the distillation of petroleum oils mounted on a firebrick setting 2 and heated in any suitable manner to produce hydrocarbon vapors. A number of stills may be employed either operating separately or as the units of a battery for thecontinuous distillation of petroleum and the vapors therefrom may be manifolded in any desired combination. The vapors to be condensed pass through vapor line 3 into condenser 4, which carries a number of open end tubes 5 between header plates 6 and 7. The hydrocarbon va ors are confined between the exterior 0 these tubes and the jacket 8. Fresh water is continuously su plied to the interior of the tubes through tlie pipe 9 and is evaporated simultaneously with the condensation of the h drocarbon vapors. If the still and con enser are operated under reduced pressure, uncondensed vapors and non-condensible gases are withdrawn through outlet 10 by means of a vacpump 11. This may be of an suitable orm although that shown an preferably em loyed maintains a vacuum by the operation of a jet of dry steam at high velocities and is preferably equipped-at the discharge end with a condenser 12 through which coo fluid is passed by means of inlet 13 and outlet 14. The condensed hydrocarbons pass .olf through pipe 15. to the heat exchanger 16 in which they are cooled by the circulation of a cooling medium throu h the multiplicity of open end pipes 17 he cooled oil is transferred 'by pump 18 through pipe 18 to tank 19 for storage.

The vapors of the intermediate cooling medium pass continuously into condenser 20 in which they are held between casing 21 and the exterior of a multiplicity of open end tubes 22. Water which may be impure or even salt water is circulated within the tubes whereby condensation'of the vapors is effected, the condensate being cont nuously returned to 8 by pipe 9. That part of the system in which vaporization and condensation of the vapors of the intermediate cooling medium is efiected is preferably maintained under vacuum by. withdrawing any permanent gases or uncondensed vapors therefrom through pi e 24 by means of the vacuum pump 25 (1180?! arging through condenser 26, the construction petroleum oils which comprises passing such vapors under an absolute pressure of 10 inches of mercury or less in heat interchanging relationship to a cooling medium maintamed under an absolute pressure of 10 substantially non-corrosive liquid non-corrosive liquid con inches of mercury or less to produce condensation of the vapors of petroleum oil and vaporization of the cooling medium, conducting away and condensing the vapors of the cooling-medium, and continuously returning the condensate to heat interchanging relationship with the vapors of petroleum oil.

2. The process of condensing vapors of petroleum oils which comprises passing such vapors under less than atmospheric pressure in heat exchanging relationship with a cooling fluid maintained under less than atmos heric pressure.

3. he process of condensing vapors of petroleum oils which comprises passing such dium, means for maintaining the vapors under pressure less than atmospheric, means for maintaining the cooling medium under pressure less t an atmos heric, means for conducting away and condensing the vapors of the cooling medium and for returning the condensate to the heat interchanging relationship.

NATHANIEL E. LOOMIS.

va rs under less than atmospheric pressure in eat exchanging relationship with a cool mg same ressure. he process of condensing vapors of fluid maintained at substantially the petroleum oils which comprises passing such vapors into indirect heat exchanging relationship with substantially non-corrosive liquid whereby the latter is va rized, conducting away and condensing t e vapors of the liquidby indirect heat exchange with relatively corrosive liquid, and returning the non-corrosive liquid condensate to heat interchanging relationship with the vapors of petroleum oil.

5. The process of condensing vapors of potroleum oils which comprises passing such vapors under less than atmospheric pressure into heat exchanging relationship with w ereby the latter is vaporized maintaining the hquid under less than atmospheric pressure,

. conducting away and condensing the vapors of the liquid by indirect heat exchange with relatively corrosive liquid and returning the densateto heat interchanging relationship with the vapors of petroleum oil.

6. An apparatus for the condensation of petroleum vapors; comprising means for passi such vapors in indirect heat interchangmg relationship with a cooling me- 

